Don't flush this!

Make their jobs easier — and give the environment a break while you're at it.

Allow me to introduce the "unflushables":

Tampons

Despite what the commercials say, tampons (and applicators) go in the garbage, ladies. Don't wait for "that time of the month" to change your ways. Omit disposables today.

Condoms

Gentlemen, you're not off the hook. Condoms are garbage, too.

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Hair

When did you last clean your hair brush? (That's disgusting.) Hygiene aside, compost or trash that hair and everything you rescue from the drain trap to prevent clogs.

Attention ladies: this is how to convince your man NOT to shave over the bathroom sink! (Throw in lingo from What happens when I flush (PDF) like "stretching the capacity of the wastewater infrastructure.")

Floss

Don't let me get in the way of adding a year to your life expectancy with daily flossing. Just don't flush it!

Disposable wipe-y products

There's a trio of common disposables — baby wipes, mopping pads and cleaning cloths. All will block sewers or harm the environment. It's time to make your own baby wipe solution and reuse cloths.

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Dec 06, 201312:02 PM

mel says...

How exactly are you supposed to shave without using water? Even if you use a cup or bowl, you still have to rinse it. I am genuinely curious as I had no idea you were not supposed to flush hair.

Ahh and that also concerns ladies — we also shave! I’m not sure when I was supposed to try to convince my man not to use the sink… for me, shaving in the tub is way grosser.

Dec 04, 2013 8:37 PM

Jack Stewart says...

“Attention ladies: this is how to convince your man NOT to shave over the bathroom sink!” — Ridiculous. Over what else does a man shave but the sink?

Dec 04, 2013 3:10 PM

Kristin says...

Funny I gather all of my hair when I shower and stick it to the wall lol. Then I wait till it is dry and put it in the garbage. Works pretty good I have b=never had a clog:)

Nov 25, 2013 7:19 PM

Jarrid says...

Please oh please oh please don’t flush paper towels or napkins either — only toilet paper is designed to disintegrate in the collection pipes — the others are often designed to “stay strong even when wet”. Medications are a terrible thing to flush as our treatment systems often can’t treat them and they can actually harm the bacteria used in secondary treatment processes not to mention fish and other wildlife in the receiving water. And the biggest pipe killers are fats, oils, and grease (FOG) — put them in a container to cool and solidify and then compost or trash.

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